“Hey Siri, play me a song”, I speak into my phone while holding down the power button. A colorful, visually pleasing line fluctuates on the screen as I speak, and before I know it, music is flowing out of my iPhone’s speakers. Siri, an artificially intelligent software, is programmed to solve problems and offer solutions to any input from an iPhone user. She can be very helpful, as well as funny, quirky, and downright interesting. This artificial intelligence, however, only scratches the surface of what AI technology is capable of. As we continue to progress into the digital age, technology is becoming more and more advanced by the day. The rate at which technology is advancing is increasing rapidly, with new developments and discoveries constantly leading us farther into the future. Artificial intelligence is a branch of technology that continues to advance at a rapid pace, while blurring the line between the digital and human world. A.M. Turing first hypothesized the idea of artificial intelligence in 1950 by asking a simple, yet infinitely complex question, “Can machines think?” (Turing). 70 years later, Turing would simply be floored by the way that scientists across the world have answered his question; with a resounding yes. Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday lives. From our Siris and Alexa’s, to self-parking cars, to what appears on our social media feeds, artificial intelligence is everywhere, even when we may not know it. Artificial intelligence is also being used to make breakthroughs across different industries across the globe. The future of industries like healthcare, business, and the public sector will incorporate AI, and this technology will be used to hopefully better the lives of all and make our processes more efficient and more effective. However, with great power comes great responsibility. And artificial intelligence will prove to be one of the greatest powers when it comes to technology. We must exercise caution and ethical judgement when moving forward with AI, as there are very real dangers and risks that will come along with its use. Artificial intelligence has the ability to be humankind’s most impactful invention, and the world of possibilities and potential is endless as long as this technology is used responsibly.

Artificial intelligence will have the potential to make monumental improvements across many fields, including the field of medicine and healthcare. AI can make an impact in the world of healthcare in many ways, one of which that is very relevant today, is by using data to get ahead of and better analyze the spread of viruses. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread has been limited and slowed mainly by isolation and contact tracing. Some aspects of this fight against the virus have used artificial intelligence, including countries like China and Japan using “robots for surveillance. Countries like Qatar, Indonesia, and Jordan also use drones to monitor the isolation process” (Albzeirat). These artificially intelligent surveillance techniques have been used to monitor and ensure isolation, but AI can be used in other ways in order to help monitor and slow the spread of a virus like COVID-19. There have also been “new applications related to remote temperature checks and thermal monitoring cameras” (Albzeirat). These thermal cameras, when equipped with artificially intelligent data collection, can be used to monitor public places and collect data, helping to control the spread and better inform public policy makers.

While these uses to help monitor isolation are helpful, the biggest advantage of AI in virus spread control is the ability to use data to predict the future and forecast where the spread will move to next. This process of predicting the evolution of any viruses through genetic analysis and analysis of interactions between viruses with each other or with the surrounding environment” (Albzeirat) will help scientists to be better equipped in stopping new strains of virus. AI can also be used to collect and analyze valuable “data about the incubation period, the route of transmission, the ports of entry” (Albzeirat). This data and the way that AI algorithms can be run to predict the viruses next move “could be critical to control the spreading of the diseases” (Albzeirat). While the technology is limited at this point, artificial intelligence will be key in preventing the next outbreak of a virus like COVID-19. The results of this virus have been catastrophic across the globe, and hopefully our research and advancements in technology like AI will have the potential to prevent and protect us from another event like this.

While AI presents us with a powerful tool to aid in the fight against the spread of diseases and viruses like COVID-19, this technology and the collection of biological data must be done responsibly and carefully. While the positive possibilities are certainly great, “the risks and challenges facing this future vision in combating viruses and epidemics should be considered in order to prevent using this knowledge to build a biological weapon” (Albzeirat). Anytime biological data is collected and used in this way, especially with artificially intelligent software, it is essential that it does not fall into the wrong hands. The results of irresponsibility on this stage could be very dangerous, and the idea of a biological weapon is one that must not be taken lightly.

In addition to potential advancements in virus spread prevention, artificial intelligence is being researched for many other uses in the medical field, including breast cancer screening. The ability of artificial intelligence to read and analyze images can be applied to this field and may prove to be very useful in the next few years. The growth of artificial intelligence and “the developments in AI interpretation of medical images over the last few years seem to have opened the door for incorporating stand-alone computer interpretation of images into breast cancer screening programs” (Sechopolous). This is a very interesting development in the world of medicine, as the use of AI to interpret images and screen for these cancers would greatly reduce the human workload in this field. Impressively, “current evidence shows that these algorithms are approaching, if not yet have reached, expert human performance” (Secopolous). This is a groundbreaking time in both the world of science and medicine. As the programs and algorithms developed for artificial intelligence are reaching extremely proficient levels, studies are showing these algorithms are becoming closer and closer to an expert human ability in analyzing these images. The next few years will be critical for these developments, as this technology will hopefully be able to reach other sectors of screening and imaging analysis. Over the course of the near future, “further improvements in algorithms and training sets, combined with evidence from more definite, prospective, actual-screening-prevalence trials, could finally usher in the age of computers having a direct role in breast cancer screening” (Secopolous). Artificial intelligence could prove to be a game changing technology in the world of breast cancer screening. In such a vital field, advancements in technology and increased reliability and accuracy in screening could save lives. The progress already made in this direction is extremely promising, and in the next few years we could see artificial intelligence start to have a powerful impact on breast cancer screening and the world of medicine as a whole.

In the near future, we can also expect artificial intelligence to become incorporated with and play a part in the public sector and government. In a field like the public sector, an increase in productivity and technology has the potential to benefit lots of people. Governments will have the potential to “use AI to design better policies and make better decisions, improve communication and engagement with citizens and residents, and improve the speed and quality of public services” (Berryhill). If this artificial intelligence is used in the right ways, it has the ability to benefit the lives of citizens across the globe. By collecting a large amount of data from constituents of governments, artificially intelligent programs can make decisions on a basis that is more representative of the people. It is believed that “automated processes can assist the government to make decisions that are more fair and accurate than previously was the case” (Berryhill). By automating decision making process of government, there will be a shift in power to the people and the will of the majority. Opposed to current government setups where small groups of people in power are responsible for decision making in legislation. There will also be a significant amount of time, energy, and money saved by automating processes in the public sector. By automating certain processes, “it is expected that the potential will exist to free up nearly one-third of public servants’ time, allowing them to shift from mundane tasks to high-value work” (Berryhill). By allowing public servants to spend their time performing meaningful tasks, like connecting with their communities, and actively strategizing and analyzing complex situations, artificial intelligence has the potential to drastically improve government decision making and time management.

Artificial intelligence also has the potential to positively impact another aspect of the public sector: public transportation. The most obvious use of artificial intelligence is self-driving cars, which could play a large part in the future of transportation. With many companies already equipping their cars with the ability to park themselves, and some companies, like Tesla, already using self- driving technology, artificial intelligence has already infiltrated the automobile industry. However, in the public sector, “governments are using AI to transform the ways in which they predict and manage traffic flows and handle potential safety issues.” (Berryhill). In a few examples from across the globe, governments are using artificially intelligent programs to compile data and using this data to better predict and adapt to reduce traffic congestion. In China, “the city of Hangzhou, which has a metropolitan population of about 6 million, has partnered with tech firm Alibaba to launch the “City Brain” project. The initiative uses hundreds of cameras around the city to collect real-time data on road traffic conditions. These machine-readable data are then centralized and fed into an “AI hub” which makes decisions affecting traffic lights at 128 city intersections” (Berryhill). This technology is groundbreaking and has the ability to monitor and control the flow of traffic, preventing traffic jams and increasing the efficiency of commutes. This technology, however, does not just monitor traffic. This artificial intelligence also has the ability to make “strategic decisions, such as identifying and clearing paths for ambulances on emergency calls, reducing their travel time by 50%” (Berryhill). By helping to clear the way for ambulances, cutting their travel times in half, this technology is actively saving lives and benefitting the citizens of Hangzhou.

In Singapore, SMRT, a public transportation organization, has worked on “a pilot using AI to predict the likelihood that public bus drivers would crash within the next three months. If the AI systems indicated a high chance of a crash for a driver, they are required to take a training course. The AI pilot used historical road performance data, and two data scientists observed bus driver behavior in order to identify potential risk factors” (Berryhill). This type of algorithmic analysis done by the artificially intelligent pilot could potentially save lives. This type of analysis would be nearly impossible for a human to complete, and this program will hopefully be able to prevent tragic accidents from occurring. These are only the beginning of the potential for artificial intelligence in these aspects of the public sector. With possibilities like these across the globe, it is clear that AI will play an important role in the future of public transportation and have a meaningful impact on the public sector and governments around the world.

Although there is great potential for artificial intelligence to have a positive impact on the public sector, we must go about this transition cautiously as a society. It will be very important that governments are held accountable for their use of artificial intelligence, and that it’s use is for purposes of bettering society for all, not some. Artificial intelligence can only be as good as it’s training and understanding of data, so bias and discrimination is possible if the programs are trained in a biased way. Artificial intelligence programs have had issues with bias and discrimination in the past. A few examples of this were seen when “Amazon discovered that its AI to sort through and select job applicants was biased against women (Dastin, 2018). The use of the COMPAS system in American sentencing and parole decision making has also been well analyzed for reproducing systemic biases against Afro-Americans (Allen, 2019; Benjamin, 2019). Facial recognition systems developed in the Western world have also been critiqued for having much higher error rates for non-White people (Bacchini & Lorusso, 2019)” (Henman). While these are just a few examples of bias in AI, they highlight the need for extensive caution and oversight if governmental practices are to transition to artificial intelligence for decision making and representation. With more research, development, and training of AI programs, there is hope that these biases will be mitigated and there will cease to be discrimination in the algorithms. Once this key piece is solved, artificial intelligence will be able to make a positive change on the way the public sector and governments operate. But until then, these programs should be closely monitored and those in power must be held accountable for their use and any discrimination that occurs due to a lack of training. Overall, there is a hopeful trajectory for artificial intelligence in the public sector, but this technology must be used responsibly, and with the best interests of all constituents in mind.

In the near future, artificial intelligence will also infiltrate and begin to impact the world of business. Within the world of business, marketing is one aspect of the industry that will be most impacted by the arrival of artificial intelligence. Recently, “a survey by Salesforce shows that AI will be the technology most adopted by marketers in the coming years (Columbus 2019)” (Davenport). While this technology is still being developed, many believe that artificial intelligence is the future of connecting consumers with products, and for good reason. Across different business platforms and models, artificial intelligence will have an effect on how sales are made. In an AI future of sales, “salespeople will be assisted by an AI agent that monitors tele- conversations in real time. For example, using advanced voice analysis capabilities, an AI agent might be able to infer from a customer’s tone that an unmentioned issue remains a problem and provide real-time feedback to guide the (human) salesperson’s next approach” (Davenport). This extra layer of assistance will help both the salesperson to perform their job at a higher level and help solve customers’ problems in a more efficient manner. By helping to solve problems and answer questions in real time as a supplementary tool to a salesperson, the ability and potential of AI can be maximized. Along with aiding in real time sales work, AI will also have the ability to do predictive work, analyzing patterns and data to help inform businesses what their consumers want, when they want it. In the world of sales and marketing products, “AI should lead to substantial improvements in predictive ability. Contingent on levels of predictive accuracy, firms may even substantially change their business models, providing goods and services to customers on an ongoing basis based on data and predictions about their needs” (Davenport). These advancements have the potential to really change the landscape of marketing and business as a whole, as better predictive ability and forecasting will lead to better performance with increased efficiency. This efficiency will not only help the companies selling the products, it will also make it easier for the consumers who wish to purchase them to be connected with the right seller. As well as helping to connect customer to consumer in an effective way, AI is also “expected to play an important role in predicting not only what customers want to buy, but also what price to charge, and whether price promotions should be offered” (Davenport). This technology will help businesses find pricing points that maximize sales and customer satisfaction. Ideally, these programs will be used to help the consumer, however in certain hands and with certain corporations that very well may not be the case. Overall, artificial intelligence has the potential to change the world of marketing and sales and increase efficiency and satisfaction of both sides of the business world.

With the adoption of artificial intelligence into the business world comes concerns and like in other industries, this technology must be used responsibly. One of the biggest concerns is data privacy, especially regarding the collection of consumer data by artificially intelligent programs. Some consumers are very uncomfortable with the idea of their data being used for purposes that they are unaware of, and this could lead to legal and ethical disputes over a transition to an AI based business world. The main reasons why data privacy when dealing with artificial intelligence becomes difficult according to Davenport are “(1) the low cost of storage implies that data may exist substantially longer than was intended, (2) data may be repackaged and reused for rationales different than those intended, and (3) data for a certain individual may contain information about other individuals” (Davenport). These are real concerns for consumers and may create a difficult situation when it comes to businesses fully adopting AI to make suggestions and predictions for their customers. These issues and concerns must be addressed by businesses and important decisions will have to be made regarding the privacy and usage of this data.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it will begin to become prevalent in many different industries across the globe. With the ability to think, machines are surpassing the expectations and standards that many have of technology and of computers. In the medical world, the possibilities of artificial intelligence are endlessly promising. With increasing precision, accuracy, and efficiency, AI is going to change the way that we view, imagine, and test surgical procedures, and disease prevention. The benefits of this technology in the medical world will be lifesaving, and the research and development being done right now will lay the groundwork for an artificially intelligent future of medicine. In the public sector, artificial intelligence is being developed that will change the way that governments interact with and make decisions on behalf their citizens. Automated processes will allow for public servants to spend less time doing busy work, and more time in their communities, addressing the issues that matter. Transportation will potentially be revolutionized, and with AI the efficiency of public travel can be maximized. In the world of business, AI implementation has the ability to result in increased customer satisfaction, as well as heightened efficiency and effectiveness of marketing and sales initiatives. With artificial intelligence, the possibilities for our future are endless. This technology has the power to be one of humankind’s greatest inventions and has the potential to make life better in a plethora of ways for people across the globe. But with the power that comes with this technology comes responsibility, and it is essential that artificial intelligence is used for the benefit of all, and not selfishly or dangerously. If used for the wrong purposes or without caution, there is catastrophic potential. When giving machines the ability to learn, think, and become more and more like humans, we walk a fine line between great benefits and grave danger. As we continue into the future, for better or for worse, it will be fascinating to see the way in which artificial intelligence continues to change the world as we know it.

Works Cited

Albzeirat, M.K., Zulkepli, N.N., Qaralleh, H. (2020). A Vision to Face Covid-19 pandemic and Future Risks Through Artificial Intelligence. Journal of basic and applied Research in Biomedicine, 6 (1): 15-20

A.M. Turing (1950). Computing Machinery and Intelligence. Mind 49: 433-460.

Berryhill, J., et al. (2019), “Hello, World: Artificial intelligence and its use in the public sector”, OECD Working Papers on Public Governance, No. 36, OECD Publishing, Paris.

Davenport, T., Guha, A., Grewal, D. et al. How artificial intelligence will change the future of marketing. Journal of the Acad. Mark. Sci. 48, 24–42 (2020).

Henman, Paul. “Improving Public Services Using Artificial Intelligence: Possibilities, Pitfalls, Governance.” Taylor & Francis, Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, 14 Sept. 2020, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23276665.2020.1816188.

Sechopoulos, Ioannis, and Ritse M. Mann. “Stand-Alone Artificial Intelligence – The Future of Breast Cancer Screening?” The Breast, Churchill Livingstone, 2 Jan. 2020,